How to plant and care for Quince (Meech's Prolific)

Cydonia oblonga

🌳 Tree 🍓 Fruit 🔁 Perennial

A highly ornamental and productive quince tree, 'Meech's Prolific' is known for its large, fragrant, golden-yellow fruit. Excellent for preserves, jellies, and baking. It also offers beautiful pink-white blossoms in spring.

At a glance: harvest in October.

When to plant and care for it

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Harvest

Prune

Timed for a typical UK garden (last frost mid-April). The app uses your own town's frost dates.

Growing Quince (Meech's Prolific): what it needs

Light: Full sun · 6+ hours a day
Watering: Regular during establishment, then during dry spells
Soil: Well-draining, fertile loam · pH 6.0–7.0
Spacing: 4-6m apart
In pots: Best in the ground
Feeding: Annually in early spring with a balanced fruit tree fertilizer.
Harvest: About 1095 days from sowing
Hardiness: USDA zones 5–9
Difficulty: Easy_to_intermediate

Step by step

On planting day
Plant Quince Tree
Dig a hole twice as wide as the root ball and just as deep. Place the tree, ensuring the graft union is above soil level. Backfill and firm gently.
Straight after “Plant Quince Tree”
Water In Thoroughly
Water deeply immediately after planting to settle the soil around the roots.
1 day after “Water In Thoroughly”
Stake Young Tree
Install a sturdy stake to support the young tree for its first 1-2 years, preventing wind rock.
30 days after “Stake Young Tree”
First Feeding (Establishment)
Apply a slow-release, balanced fertilizer around the base of the tree, avoiding direct contact with the trunk.
60–180 days after “First Feeding (Establishment)”
Monitor Establishment
Regularly check for signs of stress, pests, or disease. Ensure consistent watering during dry periods for the first year.

Every year

February
Dormant Pruning
Prune quince trees in late winter while dormant to remove dead, diseased, or crossing branches and to shape the tree. Aim for an open structure.
March
Spring Fertilization
Apply a balanced fruit tree fertilizer in early spring as new growth begins.
April
Apply Spring Mulch
Refresh mulch layer around the base of the tree to conserve moisture, suppress weeds, and regulate soil temperature.
April
Spring Pest/Disease Check
Inspect tree for early signs of pests (e.g., aphids, scale) or diseases (e.g., leaf spot, fire blight) as leaves emerge.
July
Monitor & Water in Dry Spells
Ensure the tree receives adequate water, especially during prolonged dry periods in summer and when fruits are developing.
August
Summer Pest/Disease Check
Continue monitoring for pests and diseases throughout the summer growing season.
October
Harvest Quince
Harvest quinces when they turn fully golden-yellow and are fragrant, typically in late autumn before hard frosts.
November
Winter Protection (Young Trees)
For young trees in colder zones, consider providing winter protection to the trunk.